Research on Ecological Value Loss from Permanent Land Occupation of the Wuma Expressway (Qingtongxia-Zhongwei)

Liu Kaishan¹, Li Tiegen¹, Wang Yong¹, Wei Yuan²

1.Gansu Vocational College of Communications; 2.Lanzhou Institute of Science and Technology Information

Abstract：

Highway construction has boosted socio-economic development and technological advance. Yet rapid expansion of expressway networks has consumed large tracts of ecological land—forests, grasslands, and croplands—imposing severe pressure on natural environments and ecosystems. Targeting the G1816 Wuma Expressway (Qingtongxia–Zhongwei), this study quantifies ecological value loss from permanent land occupation using the equivalent factor method. Findings show that construction-related permanent land occupation caused an ecosystem service value loss of 3825.98 × 104 yuan. Grassland loss alone accounted for 59.8% of the total; regulating service losses made up 52.2% of the aggregate loss. Such severe damage to ecosystem service values from expressway land take calls for science-based ecological compensation measures to secure sustainable development of highway construction and the ecological environment.

Key Words：

highway; ecosystem service value; Equivalent Factor Method